Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was locked in a tight race with Jeb Bush for third, and Cruz aides were thrilled. “People said, ‘Oh, you said the same thing three or four times.’ I’m going to say it again”, Rubio said in Londonderry, New Hampshire. “I’m assuming Jeb Bush will do well in the next couple (of primaries) and if that’s the case, he has the national organization, he has the funds … to be the nominee”.
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Not so long ago, Republicans saw New Hampshire as the proving ground that would winnow their chockablock field of candidates. But how well someone performs in the Granite State could be an indicator of their staying power.
Trump’s big talk gets a “yuuuuuge” test in New Hampshire. According to polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics, Trump is at 31 percent, followed by Rubio with 15 percent. Next were Cruz and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, both with 13 percent.
But Paleologos says Kasich and Bush are more likely than Christie to benefit from votes that peel away from Rubio.
Mr. Kasich, sounding nearly wistful, said this was the “right time” in his life to run for president. Having barely registered in Iowa, he has had little visibility in New Hampshire.
Trump does well with independents and will likely grab some of those votes on Tuesday. On Friday, he is scheduled to hold a rally in Tampa. As she greeted the senator after the event, she leaned in and said: “At the next debate, please stand up to Christie”. Unlike early voting states where delegates are doled out proportionally, Florida is a victor take all state. But his finish in Iowa was less than lackluster, and his prospects here, while better, are far from blazing.
At that moment, on live television, Rubio looked more like two kids stuffed into a trench coat than he did an adult on stage with his peers. “I think after last night, that’s over”.
Floridians backing Rubio have pulled out all the stops in recent weeks.
At a get-out-the-vote rally at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester Monday night, Trump told about 5,000 people that they “have to go out and vote no matter what”. Caldwell said he wasn’t able to make the trip north, but his colleagues Reps.
He’s not the only one getting some Sunshine State support.
“He kept saying the same thing over and over again”, said O’Brien, a 67-year-old from Manchester who is one of New Hampshire’s many registered independents.
Those calling for party unity may get their wish: The results prompted Christie to change plans to travel to SC today for a head start on the next primary February 20.
Also, by not finishing in the top five, Christie failed to qualify for the next debate sponsored by CBS News on Saturday, which alone is a potential knockout blow.
A strong finish is critical for Bush, who has struggled for months in the polls.
For Democrats, Sanders drew another large crowd Sunday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he reprised his indictment of a “rigged economy” and “corrupt campaign finance system”. “The memorized 25-second speech!”
Marco Rubio downplayed his chances of a strong finish in New Hampshire on the morning of the first-in-the-nation primary election, saying he has no idea where he will finish – and it could be in as low as fourth place.
Among the moderate governors, Bush is in the best financial position to continue his campaign and has six events scheduled Wednesday and Thursday in the Palmetto State.
“I think when it comes to income inequality, Republicans ought to be campaigning on it”, Cruz explained. “I am sure he is going to do well”.
‘So I’m going to keep – that is the core of our campaign.
“No”, he said. “I’m trying to save my voice”.
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The sooner, the better. But the battle for second and third, and more importantly, continued relevance, is still up for grabs, thanks in part to Christie. The first round of vote-by-mail ballots were mailed to overseas and military voters at the end of January, and the next round of ballots will be mailed on Tuesday to voters living stateside.
